The Baltimore County union. [volume] (Towsontown, Md.) 1865-1909, 1887-11-19
Original Housekeeping.


woman to conduct her housekeeping il
way to be conducive to the creates
happiness of all the members of the
family. I do not mean by this that i
some of her family want to lie abed ir
the morning till long past the usual
breakfast hour, that she must humor the
weak whim, and fly to prepare pleas
ant repast, no matter when their lazy
pleasure calls them forth !; nor that she
should lay aside all consideration o1
self, and be veered about in every di.
rection, mere slave for those who will
willingly and needlessly shuttle burdens
on her shoulders, if she will bear them
but that she should so order and man.
age her many sided duties that the
health and harmony of the whole house
hold may be best secured.
1t is no fools job to do this, and any
woman who thinks to be a successful
housekeeper without brains will wake
up to find herself mistaken. She must
have system in her business-she must
have morning to wash, a morning to
iron, morning to bake, morning to
churn, &c., &c., and then direct her
energies to carrying out this general
plan as nearly as she honorably and
politely may. But in SO doing she
must not make himself disagreeable,
she must remember that a true life is
not spent for life alone; but for others.
She will be subject to interruption, and
obstacles may arise that have not been
calculated for, and make it desirable
that she should put off washing or some
other essential work until another day.
This she can do, and the world will not
cease to move, the sun will shine and
the rain descend ,a4d-if.she, is ga ner-
be ascheerful as though her purpose had
not been thus frustrated.
There are women who could scarcely
be persuaded to put off their usual days
work to 60 to wedding or funeral,
and others who never think of baking
till the last crumb is exhausted, nor
washing until they are out of clean
clothes. There are those who would
not bulge an inch from the beaten
track to take aride when their husbands
invited them, and others who are gad-
ding about in season and out, only
staying home when there is no place to
go to-. There are women who have lots
of time to 60 visiting, and are the most
genial people in the world at other folks
table, but who look daggers if friend
drops in unannounced to dine or sup
with them. I suppose it takes all sorts
to make up world, but the above vari-
eties are not your style nor mine.
Some one says,-"Give a plan of
work from Monday morning till Sum
day night" This, dear woman, can
TIE fH. lfs ha dda- and outs @ Of your own establish
ment. Your husband is not like mine
he is not half so good-and your
children are not of the stuff of which
mine are made. You have duties that
1 know not of, and 1 have those you
never dreamed Of; your society is not
mine, and it calls for exertions from
my philosophy. When one is in Rome,
they want to do as Romans do; so you
want to do as your associates do; you
want your house furnished as theirs is,
YOU want to feed them as they feed you;
and so from the setting of tea-table
to the doing up of your back hair, you
must decide for yourself how it shall be
arranged. You know best the materi-
al you have to deal with.
Every successful housekeeper must
lay her own plans, use her own judg-
ment, and not trust to others. She
may gather ideas and information from
the printed page; but she must mt
them into her own programme OF bus
mess; the same as she gathers styles
and designs for dresses from fashion
plates, but fits them to her figure before
she uses them.
There is crying demand for more
thoughtful housekeepers and mothers,
more independent women who are
willing to let their own good sense lead
them in their domestic duties, and for
more original housekeeping, and less
following in others wake. 1t is worse
than folly for woman of little means
and no kitchen help to speak of, to try to
live and entertain in the style of her
neighbor who is more abundantly
provided for. Trying to keep up to
those beyond has ruined many family,
and broken the health of scores oi
women.
ga virtuous woman looketh we'll to
the ways of her household, and eateth
not the bread of idleness. Her chill
dren arise up and call her blessed hel
husband is known in the gates, and he
praiseth her"
This is as true to-day as in the time
of King Lemuel. The woman who
thus wins honor for her loved ones ane
| ed is thoughtful woman. She will de
eide for herself what shall be had TO
breakfast, how long it will pay to pate
q shirt. and how her children shall D
clothed for health, and comforts sake
She will bring her own mind into a.
things and her wisdom will be strength
ened bv constant use. Thus can sh
l;ohten the cares of housekeeping, an
even though there may be hlndrane
here and an annoyance there, the mi
chinery will move on without creakinl
for the hand at the helm is steae
one. and experience has ingrafted Il
4Lo+ ssthere is a time i